Chong to leave ‘safe’ Bandar Kuching for ‘grey’ Stampin

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen is a three-term MP for Bandar Kuching but will let newcomer Kelvin Yii stand in his place.

Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen is said to want to lead by example in taking the tougher seat.

KUCHING: The guessing game on the opposition candidates for the two parliamentary seats in Kuching is over.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen will be contesting in the more vulnerable seat of Stampin and leave the “safer” Bandar Kuching to newcomer Dr Kelvin Yii.

A state DAP source told FMT that this was decided by the state committee following Chong’s request that he be fielded in Stampin. He is a three-term MP for Bandar Kuching, having first won the seat in the 2004 general election.

“As the Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman as well, Chong feels duty-bound to contest in a more difficult seat. He wanted to lead by example and the state DAP has decided to accede to his request”, the source said.

Stampin is considered a “grey” constituency following the redelineation exercise carried out prior to the 2016 state elections, which saw the state seat of Batu Lintang from Stampin moved to Bandar Kuching.

Batu Lintang is considered a safe opposition seat and with the move, Bandar Kuching is now even more concentrated with opposition voters.

This turns Stampin into a vulnerable seat for the DAP as the parliamentary constituency now comprises the three state seats of Batu Kawah, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kitang.

Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang are held by BN/SUPP while Chong himself is the state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa.

For weeks, Kuchingites have been expecting Chong to defend Bandar Kuching with Yii in Stampin.

Stampin’s current incumbent Julian Tan has decided not to seek re-election as he wants to concentrate on his business in Kuala Lumpur.

In the 2013 general election, Tan defeated SUPP’s Yong Khoon Seng in Stampin with a majority of 18,670 votes in a constituency of 84,732 voters. Chong won Bandar Kuching that year with a majority of 19,642 votes over SUPP’s Tan Kai.

Sarawak DAP has classified Stampin as a “risky” constituency with its chance of retaining the seat at 50-50. - FMT